2019 Featured Performers & Demonstrations
(scheduling still in progress, check back)
Jessica Mason Host Diversity Stage
Armin Hasanagic Host Heritage Stage
Katelyn Mason Host World Stage
The Slants
The Slant’s music is a catchy combination of 80’s keyboard driven rock n’ roll with influences of traditional Asian music and melodies. They’ve been featured on Conan O’Brien, The Daily Show, Rolling Stone, and other media across 150 countries and headlined some of the largest festivals in North American and Asia. Don’t miss this bombastic, fun, and family-friendly performance!
Tuatha Dea
Celtic, tribal, Gypsy rock with an Appalachian steampunk edge. Their rhythmic groove and interaction naturally inspires audience participation, a staple of their performances. They mesh the traditional music of Scotland and Ireland with their own bold blend of mainstream rock, mountain drumming and Appalachian blues to produce a truly unique sound with universal appeal!
Kuvebo!
Performing music and dance from West Africa, the group plays djembe/dundun along with flutes, xylophones, and additional percussion. Songs in West African languages with intricate drum breaks, masked dance, a stilt dancer and audience participation elements invite everyone to join the village drum and dance party!
Barrenhart
Barrenhart’s Celtic Bluegrass combines instrumental mastery with a deep knowledge of Appalachian & European traditional music. Its four musicians, originating from all parts of the globe, perform the traditional Celtic repertoire of Ireland, Scotland & England with a twist of Appalachian old time & bluegrass music woven into the fabric.
Marcel Portilla Band
Energetic show performance of several Latin styles of music with a blend of blues,funk.
Armin Hasanagic & Sasha Strunjas
A mix of traditional Bosnian sevdah songs as well as gypsy and folk music from the Balkin region. Instruments include guitar, prim, veillette and gryphone.
Midori Kai
Our local Japanese community has been a part of the festival from the beginning. Each year representatives lead festival goers in a variety of traditional Japanese dances.
Rachana Pasupuleti
Rachana Pasupuleti was 8 years old when she began peforming at the Bowling Green International Festival in 2009. She has studied Bharatnatyam, a Classical form of Indian Dance since she was three years old.
Def Leprechaun
Def Leprechaun brings their rowdy Celtic folk and hilarious shenanigans.
Bhutanese Community
Nepali ethnic cultural dances from the local Bhutanese Community.
Cielito Lindo
Local children and adults performing Jalisco dance and other traditional hispanic dances.
Burmese Community of Bowling Green
A Variety of traditional dances by 120 local representatives of the Burmese, Karen, Karenni, Kachin and Chin cultures from Burma.
Gabriela Guadalupe Vargas Berroa
Traditional Peruvian dances Saya and Montonero Arequipeño
Manisha Arora
Indian Bollywood fusion dance representing various dance forms of Indian culture
Kentucky Grapplers
Martial arts demonstrations
SLB Kuchipudi
Sreshta Meduri performs Kuchipudi, a dance-drama performance with its roots in the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text of Natya Shastra. Like all major classical dances of India, it developed as a religious art linked to traveling bards, temples and spiritual beliefs.
Robin Duckett
A single performer in the sean nos style of Irish music, an old traditional style of singing without accompaniment that is a highly ornamental type of singing. These songs have been passed down orally from generation to generation
Piñata Bursts
Visit the Piñata Bursts to burst a piñata every hour on the hour. Piñatas have been handmade by local artist Ronnie Jaggers of Chiseled Features Studio since 2001.
Opening Ceremony Honorees
T-Shirt Design by Ashley Scott
Ashley Scott is a WKU student and freelance graphic designer from Bowling Green, KY. She is studying sociology and graphic design and she graduates in May. She loved creating a t-shirt that celebrates the diversity of our city! See more of her work at www.instagram.com/ashleyscottdesigns and www.ashleyscottdeseigns.com
Art Print by Zach Preston
Zach Preston is a Bowling Green based graphic designer and student at Western Kentucky University. He has been honing his skills in printmaking and graphic design for the past several years with an innovative outlook, and a passion for constructing unique and cutting-edge designs
RefugeeBG Soccer Tournament Winners
RefugeBG connects Refugee populations with area churches and offers supportive services. In 2018 they held the first Refuge Bowling Green International Soccer Tournament. The annual event takes place in early September. Visit RefugeBG.com.